How do I set up my Google Business Profile as a contractor (step by step)?

For a local trade, your Google Business Profile matters more than your website. It's what puts you on the map (literally), feeds the "near me" results, and shows your reviews and phone number right when someone's ready to call. Here's how to set it up properly.

Claim or create your listing

Go to google.com/business and search your business name. One of two things happens:

• A listing already exists (Google often auto-creates them). Claim it.
• Nothing shows up. Create a new profile from scratch.

Either way, you'll need a Google account. Use one tied to the business, not a personal email you might lose access to.

Verify that it's really yours

Google needs proof you own the business. You'll be offered some mix of phone, text, video, or postcard verification. Video and phone are fastest; postcard can take up to two weeks. Start this early — it's the one step you can't rush at the end.

Choose the right category and service area

Your primary category is the biggest lever for which searches you show up in. Be specific: "Emergency plumber" beats "Contractor." Add secondary categories for your other services.

If customers don't visit your shop, set a service area instead of a public address — list the towns and zip codes you cover. (More on this in how to add service areas.)

Fill in everything, then add photos

Complete profiles outrank half-finished ones. Add your hours, phone, website, and a full services list. Then add real photos — your work, your truck, your team. Listings with photos get noticeably more calls and direction requests.

Don't fake reviews or stuff keywords into your business name. Google penalizes both, and it's not worth the risk. Earn reviews the right way — see how to ask customers for Google reviews.

Then connect it to your website

Once your profile is live, your website should point back to it (and pull the same hours, reviews, and service area) so customers see one consistent business everywhere they look. If your profile is set up but you still aren't showing on the map, read why you're not showing up on Google Maps.

Setting up the profile is free and takes about 30 minutes of focused work. It's the highest-return half hour most contractors will ever spend on marketing — and Blank Theory wires every site we build straight into it, so your listing and your site always match.